Science Common Sense

1590 - What is the life cycle of a cell?

Imagine you're building a LEGO castle. The life cycle of a cell is like building, using, and fixing your castle.

1. Interphase (building): It's like collecting all the LEGO pieces you need. The cell grows, makes more copies of its DNA, and prepares for the next step.
2. Prophase (preparing): You're getting everything ready to build. The cell's DNA gets all tangled up and the center of the cell starts to divide.
3. Metaphase (aligning): You line up all the LEGO pieces. The cell's DNA lines up in the middle of the cell.
4. Anaphase (separating): You separate the LEGO pieces into two groups. The cell's DNA splits into two identical groups.
5. Telophase (finishing): You're almost done building. The cell's two groups of DNA get their own new centers.
6. Cytokinesis (dividing): You finish building two identical LEGO castles. The cell splits into two daughter cells.

But that's not the end. Cells can also differentiate (become specialized), like making a LEGO robot or a LEGO car. And sometimes, cells can die (like when you break a LEGO piece).